While tabling the Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman spoke about the seven major focus areas of India that would get a boost and be benefited from this year’s union budget. She said that these areas have great growth potential and would help drive India’s economy. Of the seven areas, referred to as ‘Saptarishi’ by the Finance Minister, one was Infrastructure and Logistics.
For this sector, she said “100 critical transport infrastructure projects, for the connectivity of ports, coal, steel, fertilizer, and food grains sectors have been identified. They will be taken up on priority with an investment of Rs 75,000 crore, including Rs 15,000 crore from private sources.
Furthermore, she stressed on the significance of regional connectivity and added, “ 50 additional airports, heliports, water aerodromes, and advanced landing grounds will be revived for the enhancement of regional air connectivity in the coming days.”
Also, speaking about the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Sustainable Cities of Tomorrow’, the Finance Minister said, “The Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) will be managed by the National Housing Bank and will be used by public agencies to create urban infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Further, all cities and towns will be enabled for 100 per cent mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers to transition from manhole to machine-hole mode. The enhanced focus will be provided for scientific management of dry and wet waste to facilitate urban sanitation.”
